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The Secret Power
The Secret Power (1921) is a science fiction novel by Marie Corelli. Published toward the end of Corelli's career as one of the most successful writers of her generation, the novel combines romance, fantasy, and science fiction to tell a story of discovery and sacrifice set in a strangely familiar future. Thought to be inspired by the life of Marie Curie, The Secret Power showcases the immense talent of an author whose reputation has subsided in the years after her death. Due for reassessment by a modern audience, Mari Corelli's work--which has inspired several adaptations for film and theater--is a must read for fans of early science fiction.
Set in the future, The Secret Power describes a future world united through long-distance air travel. Featuring beautiful descriptions of Southern California and Sicily, the novel follows an impoverished academic and a wealthy heiress, star-crossed lovers who wrestle with the discovery of a mysterious radioactive substance. Envisioning the prospect of unmatched power, they struggle with the ethical implications of an energy source with the capacity for good and evil. Living in his secluded cabin, the academic leaves the material untouched, fearful of its consequences. Meanwhile, his lover is content to eat small pieces of the substance daily, astounded by its rejuvenating effect. Addressing philosophical, scientific, and religious themes, The Secret Power is a moving work of fiction which uses romance to ask important questions about an emerging modern world.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Marie Corelli The Secret Power is a classic work of English science fiction reimagined for modern readers.
Set in the future, The Secret Power describes a future world united through long-distance air travel. Featuring beautiful descriptions of Southern California and Sicily, the novel follows an impoverished academic and a wealthy heiress, star-crossed lovers who wrestle with the discovery of a mysterious radioactive substance. Envisioning the prospect of unmatched power, they struggle with the ethical implications of an energy source with the capacity for good and evil. Living in his secluded cabin, the academic leaves the material untouched, fearful of its consequences. Meanwhile, his lover is content to eat small pieces of the substance daily, astounded by its rejuvenating effect. Addressing philosophical, scientific, and religious themes, The Secret Power is a moving work of fiction which uses romance to ask important questions about an emerging modern world.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Marie Corelli The Secret Power is a classic work of English science fiction reimagined for modern readers.
242 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1921
15 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Marie Corelli
388 books176 followersMarie Corelli (born Mary Mackay) was a best-selling British novelist of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, whose controversial works of the time often label her as an early advocate of the New Age movement.
In the 1890’s Marie Corelli’s novels were eagerly devoured by millions in England, America and the colonies. Her readers ranged from Queen Victoria and Gladstone, to the poorest of shop girls. In all she wrote thirty books, the majority of which were phenomenal best sellers. Despite the fact that her novels were either ignored or belittled by the critics, at the height of her success she was the best selling and most highly paid author in England.
She was the daughter of poet, journalist, author, anthologist, novelist, and songwriter Charles Mackay. Her brother was the poet Eric Mackay.
In the 1890’s Marie Corelli’s novels were eagerly devoured by millions in England, America and the colonies. Her readers ranged from Queen Victoria and Gladstone, to the poorest of shop girls. In all she wrote thirty books, the majority of which were phenomenal best sellers. Despite the fact that her novels were either ignored or belittled by the critics, at the height of her success she was the best selling and most highly paid author in England.
She was the daughter of poet, journalist, author, anthologist, novelist, and songwriter Charles Mackay. Her brother was the poet Eric Mackay.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 3, 2023
"...like the majority of men they grow impatient with clever women, they prefer stupid ones. In fact they deliberately choose stupid ones to be the mothers of their children, hence the ever increasing multitude of fools!"
Theres a sub-genre called 'Edisonian', about inventors mostly boy inventors, inspirde by Thomas Edison. This book i'm going to classify as 'Curiepisode' (i'm not great at suffixes ;) ), as inspired by Marie Curie.
A tale of a man and woman, both geniuses, he a penniless academic, she a scrooge mcduck level of wealthy heiress. Both discover a new energy source and this story tells how they each decide to use it. At least thats the general plot outline but doesn't really matter much in the grand scheme.
I would describe them both as self-centered, manic depressive, religious nuts with varying degress of meglomania.
Corelli was apparently very popular in the 1890s unfortnately it doesn't seen her writing changed much since then or that she learned much in the 30 years between.
The physics in this is laughable, the engineering absurd, even the medicine is nonsense. Also its plagued with psuedo-religious theories that would make Dan Brown blush.
It all feels incredibly dated. I think it might be feminist but its views of women are so oldfashioned as to be quite annoying.
The writing itself isn't bad and the meglomania and religious mystery elements are interesting but not utiliszed a lot.
Overall the lenght, boredom and datedness all combined to slowly drop it to one star. I didn't hate reading it but certainly can't recommend it.
Edit: Made available by the Merril Collection.
Theres a sub-genre called 'Edisonian', about inventors mostly boy inventors, inspirde by Thomas Edison. This book i'm going to classify as 'Curiepisode' (i'm not great at suffixes ;) ), as inspired by Marie Curie.
A tale of a man and woman, both geniuses, he a penniless academic, she a scrooge mcduck level of wealthy heiress. Both discover a new energy source and this story tells how they each decide to use it. At least thats the general plot outline but doesn't really matter much in the grand scheme.
I would describe them both as self-centered, manic depressive, religious nuts with varying degress of meglomania.
Corelli was apparently very popular in the 1890s unfortnately it doesn't seen her writing changed much since then or that she learned much in the 30 years between.
The physics in this is laughable, the engineering absurd, even the medicine is nonsense. Also its plagued with psuedo-religious theories that would make Dan Brown blush.
It all feels incredibly dated. I think it might be feminist but its views of women are so oldfashioned as to be quite annoying.
The writing itself isn't bad and the meglomania and religious mystery elements are interesting but not utiliszed a lot.
Overall the lenght, boredom and datedness all combined to slowly drop it to one star. I didn't hate reading it but certainly can't recommend it.
Edit: Made available by the Merril Collection.
April 13, 2017
“Upon my word!" he exclaimed—"I am making a nice fool of myself! Actually wasting time on a woman. Go home, Manella, go home! If you are wise you won't stop here another minute! See now! You are full of curiosity—all women are! You want to know why I stay up here in this hill cabin by myself instead of staying at the 'Plaza.' You think I'm a rich Englishman. I'm not. No Englishman is ever rich,—not up to his own desires. He wants the earth and all that therein is—does the Englishman, and of course he can't have it. He rather grudges America her large slice of rich plum-pudding territory, forgetting that he could have had it himself for the price of tea. But I don't grudge anybody anything—America is welcome to the whole bulk as far as I'm concerned—Britain ditto,—let them both eat and be filled. All I want is to be left alone. Do you hear that, Manella? To be left alone! Particularly by women. That's one reason why I came here. This cabin is supposed to be a sort of tuberculosis 'shelter,' where a patient in hopeless condition[…]”
January 13, 2013
Trippy 1920s metaphysical Catholic science fiction. There's altogether too much of people standing around saying clever things to each other, but it's worth reading, partly because the author was apparently an amazing person in her own right, and partly for the technology. One character eats a little bit of radioactive material each day to keep herself young and healthy; another keeps the same stuff in a bowl in his log cabin. And science's super awesome crowning achievement in this book is an airship that can fly across the Atlantic Ocean in only THREE DAYS!
July 16, 2023
Most of the dialogue felt like is was intentionally bad. I don't know that I've ever seen so many exclamation points in one publication. The story had great potential, but none of the characters were fully developed, and rather than explore the interesting elements, the narrative revolved around trite gender stereotypes. I was hoping for more.
September 27, 2020
Weak as water!
I started this book in good faith. As I read further on in the book, felt like I had the rug pulled form me. Sorry, I did like the way the female character was treated.
I started this book in good faith. As I read further on in the book, felt like I had the rug pulled form me. Sorry, I did like the way the female character was treated.
June 16, 2023
Fantastic book, I listened to the audiobook version on YouTube. I will leave the link below so that everyone can enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ9l8...
May 19, 2017
অনতিদূরের কাহিনীনির্ভর মিথ (পিত্তলনগরী) ও কল্পবিজ্ঞানের (রূপোলী ঈগল) মিশেলে একটি সুন্দর গল্প। এটা বোধহয় আমার অতিচিন্তাশীলতা, যে আমি কিছু পরিচিতের ছায়া খুঁজে পেয়েছি, ফলতঃ এ কাহিনী আমায় কিছুটা হলেও নাড়িয়ে দিয়ে গেছে। শুরুটা সামান্য গতি হারানো, অবশ্য তাতে লেখিকার কি দোষ! তাঁর আমলে এইভাবেই দেখি গল্পগুলো লেখা হয়। অনুবাদটা পড়লাম, দারুন প্রাঞ্জল বলাই বাহুল্য...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews